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Have you heard of mechanical doping? Perhaps a scandal in Tour de France or Cyclo-cross?

Unsurprisingly cheating in racing is getting more creative, people are always looking for advantage.

What is it?

It's the use of hidden motors and other mechanical devices inside the bicycle to help cyclists ride faster by adding watts to a rider's pedal stroke.

How does it work?

By installing a small motor into your seat tube that will power the bottom crank and the pedals will go round on their own definitely giving an advantage in racing.

The motor requires a battery pack, that can be hidden down inside the seat tube as well or in a water bottle and seat pouch.

The motor can be started and stopped with a push of a button that's hidden on the handlebars, allowing to a boost your performance when you need it the most.

Controversy in racing?

There have been many occasions when mechanical doping has been uncovered, perhaps the most famous being the 19 year old Femke Van Den Dreissche 6 year ban and 17 k fine for riding Cyclo-cross World Championships in January with a doped bike.

Pedals moving on their own.

Ryder Hesjedal riding the La Vuelta

What can be done to prevent this?

Magnetic resonance systems that screen the bikes to see if a motor is installed at the start and finish lines.

Also this year Tour de France will use an alternative method of thermal cameras to see it at random locations along the route.

Stay safe and remember what you can do with your own power is much more fulfilling than that with a motors help!